Posted by: Patrick
ESPN reports on Roger Clemens' exclusive interview with "Mike & Mike in the Morning" today.
He maintained his innocence, declaring it "impossible" for his DNA to be linked to the materials that Brian McNamee supplied to the government because he says McNamee never injected him with the drugs alleged. He has provided a DNA sample and has not been summonded to appear in front of a federal grand jury.
He also spoke on the Daily News' new book, "American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in America's Pastime." He called the excerpts he's read "completely false."
He has only talked with Andy Pettitte a few times following Pettitte's admission to using performance enhancing drugs, though he still considers him a friend.
"I know what your polls say," he said, referring to the general public perception of his guilt. "I've been getting great responses everywhere I've gone in the cities I've traveled to. All I can do is be me and give them the message I just told you about that steroids are bad for these kids. You don't want to have anything to do with them the way they tear your body down."
"But I can't defend a negative. When you've got somebody that's out there that is really just crawling up your back to make a buck, which is what this is, other than speaking out, what else can you do?"
He maintained his innocence, declaring it "impossible" for his DNA to be linked to the materials that Brian McNamee supplied to the government because he says McNamee never injected him with the drugs alleged. He has provided a DNA sample and has not been summonded to appear in front of a federal grand jury.
He also spoke on the Daily News' new book, "American Icon: The Fall of Roger Clemens and the Rise of Steroids in America's Pastime." He called the excerpts he's read "completely false."
He has only talked with Andy Pettitte a few times following Pettitte's admission to using performance enhancing drugs, though he still considers him a friend.
"I know what your polls say," he said, referring to the general public perception of his guilt. "I've been getting great responses everywhere I've gone in the cities I've traveled to. All I can do is be me and give them the message I just told you about that steroids are bad for these kids. You don't want to have anything to do with them the way they tear your body down."
"But I can't defend a negative. When you've got somebody that's out there that is really just crawling up your back to make a buck, which is what this is, other than speaking out, what else can you do?"
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham reports that the Yankees plan to announce their plans to sell memorabilia from the old Yankee Stadium tomorrow. Seats, sod, dirt, bricks and more will be available.
Posted by: Patrick
Xavier Nady is set to start hitting off of a tee on Friday. If all goes well, the right fielder feels that a rehab assignment could be in his future, as early as May 25.
Nady has been receiving platelet-rich plasma injections in an effort to get back quicker and avoid surgery.
Nady has been receiving platelet-rich plasma injections in an effort to get back quicker and avoid surgery.
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham reports that Chien-Ming Wang will start on Tuesday for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.
He's got the OK to throw 100 pitches and could return to the Majors if he does well.
He's got the OK to throw 100 pitches and could return to the Majors if he does well.
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees have looked rather flat in this series in Baltimore, but were somehow able to take two out of three thanks to Friday's gem thrown by CC Sabathia and a three-run homer by Johnny Damon in the rubber match earlier this afternoon. The Yankees got a solid start from Joba Chamberlain, as well, and the Yankees got a key 5–3 victory before heading to Toronto for a big series with the first-place Blue Jays.
Joba Chamberlain was solid for the third straight time, this time delivering a start that was in a way similar to his start last Tuesday against Boston. After allowing a three-run homer to Aubrey Huff with one out in the 1st inning that put the Orioles on top 3–1, Joba settled down to pitch 5 and 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. He did get himself into some trouble, but was able to get a big double play in the 3rd, and he got out of a 2nd and 3rd, one out jam in the 4th without any damage, as well.
Despite Chamberlain's effort, the Yankees trailed most of the way until Johnny Damon put a 3–2 pitch into the right field seats for a three-run homer to give the Yankees a two-run lead in the 8th. All five Yankee runs were scored via the long ball (Teixeira and Cano homered, as well). Mariano Rivera pitched a scoreless 9th to record his 6th save of the season.
The game was not without controversy, as Aubrey Huff made two vintage-Joba fist pumps while he was rounding the bases after his home run in the first. Huff for his part said that it was all in good fun and that he did it because Joba had done it twice before after striking him out. But in the 1st inning? Really? That is just way too rehearsed. Baseball can be good fun without that stuff.
The game also featured something in the 3rd inning that I don't believe I've ever seen before — a player being retired on a walk...sort of. Adam Jones was attempting to steal with a 3-ball count on a pitch that was eventually ruled ball four. Jones was of course automatically awarded 2nd base but, not seeing the pitch, made a bad slide on the steal attempt and overran the bag. Derek Jeter applied the tag as Jones was trying to get back, and he was called out.
The Yanks will get the day off tomorrow and then will head to the Rogers Centre in Toronto to take on the division-leading Blue Jays. The opening game features a very interesting pitching matchup, as A.J. Burnett will be taking on his former teammate Roy Halladay. Game starts at 7:07 ET (what's with all these weird start times?)
Recap records: Patrick: 9–4, Seamus: 5–8, Andrew: 1–4.
Joba Chamberlain was solid for the third straight time, this time delivering a start that was in a way similar to his start last Tuesday against Boston. After allowing a three-run homer to Aubrey Huff with one out in the 1st inning that put the Orioles on top 3–1, Joba settled down to pitch 5 and 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. He did get himself into some trouble, but was able to get a big double play in the 3rd, and he got out of a 2nd and 3rd, one out jam in the 4th without any damage, as well.
Despite Chamberlain's effort, the Yankees trailed most of the way until Johnny Damon put a 3–2 pitch into the right field seats for a three-run homer to give the Yankees a two-run lead in the 8th. All five Yankee runs were scored via the long ball (Teixeira and Cano homered, as well). Mariano Rivera pitched a scoreless 9th to record his 6th save of the season.
The game was not without controversy, as Aubrey Huff made two vintage-Joba fist pumps while he was rounding the bases after his home run in the first. Huff for his part said that it was all in good fun and that he did it because Joba had done it twice before after striking him out. But in the 1st inning? Really? That is just way too rehearsed. Baseball can be good fun without that stuff.
The game also featured something in the 3rd inning that I don't believe I've ever seen before — a player being retired on a walk...sort of. Adam Jones was attempting to steal with a 3-ball count on a pitch that was eventually ruled ball four. Jones was of course automatically awarded 2nd base but, not seeing the pitch, made a bad slide on the steal attempt and overran the bag. Derek Jeter applied the tag as Jones was trying to get back, and he was called out.
The Yanks will get the day off tomorrow and then will head to the Rogers Centre in Toronto to take on the division-leading Blue Jays. The opening game features a very interesting pitching matchup, as A.J. Burnett will be taking on his former teammate Roy Halladay. Game starts at 7:07 ET (what's with all these weird start times?)
Recap records: Patrick: 9–4, Seamus: 5–8, Andrew: 1–4.
Posted by: Patrick
Chad Jennings reports that the Yankees have signed former Major Leaguer Josh Towers to a Minor League deal, placing him on the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre roster.
Towers, 32, started 112 games from 2001 through 2007, appearing 137 times total. He holds a 45-55 record with a 4.96 ERA and 1.38 WHIP.
Towers, 32, started 112 games from 2001 through 2007, appearing 137 times total. He holds a 45-55 record with a 4.96 ERA and 1.38 WHIP.
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham reports that today's starter, Joba Chamberlain, burst a blood vessel in his right thumb during batting practice last night and may not be able to make his start.
So, what was Joba doing during BP, you ask? Girardi said that he was flipping a ball underhanded. That's an interesting way to get injured. Apparently it doesn't hurt, but it is black and blue.
He'll try to go, but if he can't, Alfredo Aceves will step in. And that's why Aceves wasn't used last night.
So, what was Joba doing during BP, you ask? Girardi said that he was flipping a ball underhanded. That's an interesting way to get injured. Apparently it doesn't hurt, but it is black and blue.
He'll try to go, but if he can't, Alfredo Aceves will step in. And that's why Aceves wasn't used last night.
Posted by: Andrew
After having a solid 2009 debut in Detroit, Phil Hughes struggled against the Red Sox and was absolutely dismal tonight against the Orioles. The right-hander allowed eight earned runs in 1 2/3 innings in the Yankees' 12-5 loss at Camden Yards.
Hughes gave up three straight singles to begin the bottom of the second. On the third single, right fielder Nick Swisher airmailed a throw home when Luke Scott had already stopped at third. He then was able to score and the other runners advanced. A hit batter loaded the bases with no outs, and it was all downhill from there. A sacrifice fly made it 2-0, a wild pitch added another run, Adam Jones hit an RBI double, and Aubrey Huff hit a three-run home run.
At 7-0, Hughes was still left in by Joe Girardi. After a fly out, single and walk, Hughes finally got the hook in favor of Edwar Ramirez, who wasn't much better. He gave up an RBI single to Zaun (run charged to Hughes) but finally induced a fielder's choice to end the eight-run frame. In addition to the eight runs Hughes allowed over 1 2/3 innings, he also walked two and allowed eight hits on 53 pitches.
Ramirez gave up a solo shot to Nick Markakis in the bottom of the third to extend the Orioles' lead to 9-0. Nick Swisher's sacrifice fly in the fourth made it 9-1, but a two-run home run to left by Lou Montanez gave the Birds a 10-run lead.
The Yankees showed some power in the next two innings. Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira hit back-to-back home runs against starter Adam Eaton in the top of the fifth to make it an 11-4 ballgame. Swisher then added a solo home run in the sixth to make it 11-5. That would be as close as New York would get on the night.
Newly-added Brett Tomko gave up a home run to Adam Jones in the eighth to fully welcome himself into the Yankees' bullpen. He ended up surrendering three hits in his inning of work.
The Yankees drop to 14-16 with the loss. Joba Chamberlain will look to guide the Yankees to a series victory tomorrow afternoon at 1:35 p.m.
Recap records: Patrick: 9-4, Seamus: 4-8, Andrew: 1-4.
Andrew Fletcher blogs about the Yankees regularly at Scott Proctor's Arm.
Hughes gave up three straight singles to begin the bottom of the second. On the third single, right fielder Nick Swisher airmailed a throw home when Luke Scott had already stopped at third. He then was able to score and the other runners advanced. A hit batter loaded the bases with no outs, and it was all downhill from there. A sacrifice fly made it 2-0, a wild pitch added another run, Adam Jones hit an RBI double, and Aubrey Huff hit a three-run home run.
At 7-0, Hughes was still left in by Joe Girardi. After a fly out, single and walk, Hughes finally got the hook in favor of Edwar Ramirez, who wasn't much better. He gave up an RBI single to Zaun (run charged to Hughes) but finally induced a fielder's choice to end the eight-run frame. In addition to the eight runs Hughes allowed over 1 2/3 innings, he also walked two and allowed eight hits on 53 pitches.
Ramirez gave up a solo shot to Nick Markakis in the bottom of the third to extend the Orioles' lead to 9-0. Nick Swisher's sacrifice fly in the fourth made it 9-1, but a two-run home run to left by Lou Montanez gave the Birds a 10-run lead.
The Yankees showed some power in the next two innings. Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira hit back-to-back home runs against starter Adam Eaton in the top of the fifth to make it an 11-4 ballgame. Swisher then added a solo home run in the sixth to make it 11-5. That would be as close as New York would get on the night.
Newly-added Brett Tomko gave up a home run to Adam Jones in the eighth to fully welcome himself into the Yankees' bullpen. He ended up surrendering three hits in his inning of work.
The Yankees drop to 14-16 with the loss. Joba Chamberlain will look to guide the Yankees to a series victory tomorrow afternoon at 1:35 p.m.
Recap records: Patrick: 9-4, Seamus: 4-8, Andrew: 1-4.
Andrew Fletcher blogs about the Yankees regularly at Scott Proctor's Arm.
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham reports that Brett Tomko was promoted to the Majors while Dave Robertson was demoted and Eric Hacker was DFAed.
As reported, Tomko had an out in his contract that would have allowed him to leave if he wasn't in the Majors by next month.
As reported, Tomko had an out in his contract that would have allowed him to leave if he wasn't in the Majors by next month.
Posted by: Patrick
The Yankees capped a five game losing stream on Friday night in glorious fashion as CC Sabathia marked A-Rod's return to the lineup by throwing a complete game four hit shutout. He walked just 1 batter while striking out 8. He even struck out the side in the ninth, throwing 112 pitches - 79 of them for strikes. Excellent.
A-Rod did his best to make up for lost time, smacking the first hit he saw out of the ballpark for a three run home run. Of course, that would be all CC needed. In the 7th, Damon would add another run on an RBI double that scored Francisco Cervelli. It was the first run of the catcher's Major League career.
Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera each collected two hits, with Melky moving his average up to .342.
At 7:05 PM ET, Phil Hughes (1-1, 2.70) will face Adam Eaton (1-3, 7.18).
Recap records: Patrick: 9-4, Seamus: 4-8, Andrew: 1-3.
A-Rod did his best to make up for lost time, smacking the first hit he saw out of the ballpark for a three run home run. Of course, that would be all CC needed. In the 7th, Damon would add another run on an RBI double that scored Francisco Cervelli. It was the first run of the catcher's Major League career.
Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera each collected two hits, with Melky moving his average up to .342.
At 7:05 PM ET, Phil Hughes (1-1, 2.70) will face Adam Eaton (1-3, 7.18).
Recap records: Patrick: 9-4, Seamus: 4-8, Andrew: 1-3.
